Improvement in steam spading-machines



J. W. GOQDELL, 0F EAST WALLINGFORD, VERMONT.

lMPR'OVEMENT IN TEANI SPADlNG-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of' Letters Patent NoA 23,757, dated April .'26, 1859,

had to the annexed drawings, nmkinga part of this speciticaiiomin which.

Figure 1 is a lngitndinal vertical section of my inventiomtaken in the line ma, Fig. 2; Fig. 2, aninverted plan of the saine.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts 4in the two figures.

The object of this invention is to obtain a machine by which the soil may be turne l and worked in a more perfect manner for cultiva. tion than by the usual plow.

Theinvention is more especially designed for operation on a large scale, and to supersede the steam-plows that have lately been introduced.

The desired object is attained by the em'- ploymentor use ot' a series of wheels attached to a common shaft or axis, the wheels being provided with spades and cleavers, and in certain cases used lin connection with revolving wings or blades, substantially as hereinafter described. y

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a rectangular frame, which is attached'hy aball-andlsocketor universal joint, B,vot` any proper construction. to the rear of a traction engine, which-may also be constructed and arranged in any proper way to answer the desired purpose. Within the frame A a shaft,

` C, is placed; said shaft having double cranks a a at each end, and a toothed wheel, D, on itl atits center. The wheel Dgears into a pinion, FJ, which is attached to ashatt, F, of the connecting-joint B. The shaft Fis driven by the engine, and motion communicated therefrom to the shaft C by the gearing l) E.

Within the frame A, at rabout its center, a shaft, G, is placed. This shaft has aseries of wheels, H, placed on and secured permanently to it, a space, I), being allowed between the wheels. To the peripheries of the wheels H a series oi' spades, I, are attached. These spades are of curved form, slightly tapered,

and have rounded ends, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. These spades are. att-ached to the wheels Hcrcumferentially in rows, the spades of each row being in line with the centers of the spaces between its adjoining rows, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, and the spades are placed in line with the spacesb between. 'the wheels H. l

To the peripheres of the wheels H a series of plates, J are attached by links d. These plates are fitted between the spades I and parallel with the shaft G of the wheels H. The links d are attached to one edge of the plates,

and to the opposite edges springs e are connected, said springs being. secured to the sides` of wheels H, and having a tendency to keep lthe plates J close to the peripheries of the wheels H, the plates lling the spaces between thc spades longitudinally with the shaft G. i

To cach crank a on the shai't G a pitman, K, is attached. These pitmen are connected to arms L Linthe frame A, said armsbeing tit-- tedloosely on pins or rods fin the frame A. Every alternate plated has its ends project outward from the end wheels, H, 4farther than the intermediate plates, and the lower ends of the arms L act against the ends of the longer plates, while the arms L act against the shorter plates, the lower ends ofthe arms L being provided with elastic shoes g, which allow said arms to pass over the ends ofthe larger plates during theirreturn movement.

The shaft G is rotated from shaft C by gearing a", as shown in Fig. 2, and the shaft F is rotated direct from the engine.

Directly back ofthe wheels H a shaft, M, is suspended. This shaft is provided with radial vplates h, that are sufficiently wide to project within thc plane of rotation of the spades I. The shaft M is of rectangular tormat its ends, and a spring, h', bears against one end ot it.

The operation ofthe machine is as follows: The wheels H are rotated with the same speed 'as the driving-wheels ofthe engine, and conse quently are in themselves driving-w heels, and

do not permit the machine to be drawn along by the engine, as poweris applied. directly from the engine to the machine through the medium of the wheels H, which consequently perform two functionsitc witfthat of drivers and as stocks for the spades I-thefranie A being'allowed to 2 sans? conform lo the inequalities of the ground in consequence of' the universal-joint connection I3. The spades I enter the earth, as shown clearly in Fig'. l, and raise it in clocls similar to a hand-spade, and the plates J are at the proper time thrown outward by the arms L L', and serve as elearers to throw oft' the contents of the spades, the arms L Il acting alternately against the plates J, and the elastic shoes g, as before stated, permitting the arms Il' to pass over the ends ofthe larger plates J, the

.plates or elearers being brought baek to their original position by the springs e. The radial plates hA receive the contents of the spades I and invert or turn them. These plates 71. are.

rotated by the action ci' the spades themselves, the spring" h servingl as a stop; and they are necessary in spading` sod-ground, as lthe sols should beinverted; but-in spadingstock-ground they may be dispensed with.

This machine may be constructed at mo lerate cost, and will perform the work of turning the soil in a 1hr superior manner to plowshares.

I am aware that spades have been attached to rotating wheels or cylinders for the purpose of spading or turning the earth, and I do not claim separately such device; but

I do claim as new and desire to secure by yLetters Patent- 1. The Wheels H,provided with spades I, in'

connection with the clearers J and the rotating plates h, arranged for joint operation, substa-ntially as` and 'for the purpose set forth.

2. The attaching' of the frame A,\vhich con! tains -the wheels H, to a traction-engine by means of a universal joint, B, in connection with the gearing E D and shaft C, substantially as shown, whereby the frame and the wheels II are allowed to conform to the inequalities ofthe ground, and the working parts driven direct from the engine.

J. W. Gjoonnm..

Witnesses:

ABNER GooDELL, GEO. I. HOWARD. 

